BionicsHow technology of nature is changing the nature of technology

Sutirth DeyBiology Division

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, PuneCentral Tower, Sai

Trinity Building, Pashan

Pune, Maharashtra, INDIA-

411021

NCL, 19 Dec, 2010Image sources: Various

“application of biological methods and systems found in nature to the study and design of engineering systems and modern technology”

What is it….

Different from using biological products, like antibiotics, wood, grains etc.

Also known as:biomimicry, biomimetics, bio-inspiration, biognosis

What is it called….

examples…

Silence of the train…

Shinkansen

500

Pantograph of Shinkansen-500

Serrated edges on the feathers of owls

Chief engineerEiji

Nakatsu

•Tunnel booms•Uneasiness for passengers

Boom, boom…

Chip-chip…

No chip-chip

This talk focuses on:

•Bionics in the field of adhesion

•Only those technologies which have been successfully marketed or are on the verge of being so…

Chip-Chip…

George de Mestral

Walk the dog…

Budrock

(Arctium lappa) Details of a budrock

seed

Velcro

The name is bond…

Kaichang

LiCollege of Forestry

Oregon State University, USA

PureBondTM…

Byssus threads (keratin+ quinon-based proteins, etc)•Process for modification of Soy-protein•Hercules Incorporated and Columbia Forest Products•PureBondTM

•50-90% reduction in emission of toxic products like HCHO•Greener Synthetic Pathways Award for Li in 2007

Quiet flows the blood, until…

Clot formation

PlateletTM…

•Brinker technologies (Aberdeen, UK)•Sealing of leaks in small bore pipelines, including deep sea ones.•Also possible to deduce where the leak has occurred (radioactive tracers or pressure transients) Ryan et al. OTC 18882

No Chip-Chip…

Biofouling Antony BrennanUniversity of

Florida, USA

Foul play…

Sharks never face bio-fouling

Details of shark-skin

DetailsSharklet AFTM

SharkletTM…

Diamonds are forever…

•Sharklet surface does not allow bacteria to settle down•Hospital products like catheters, needles etc.

Tears of a lotus…

Barthlott and Neinhuis, Planta 1997

SEM structure of lotus leaf

Microstructures

Layer of air b/w surface and water

↓

surface for adsorption

↓

energy

↓

spreading of water

Formation of spherical droplets

Formation of spherical droplets on the surface of lotus leaf

Contaminant on a sculptured surface

Water rolls on the particles

↑

adsorption ↑

energy

Contaminants cling to water surface

Contaminants rest on tips

↓

contact with surface

↓

adhesion with surface

Particles roll away with the water droplets

Particles clinging to liquid droplets

Particles cling to liquids on rough surfaces but not on smooth surfaces

Barthlott and Neinhuis, Planta 1997

Lotus-effect

Lotusan®…

Movie

•Self-cleaning paint•Developed by Prof. Wilhelm Barthlott, University of Bonn, Germany•Manufactured by Sto Corporation, Germany•Claimed to prevent algae and microbes

Bacteria in Dental Plaque (Magnified 30000 times)

Dirt collector…

Professor Staffan

KjellebergUniversity of Göteborg

(Sweden)

Professor Peter SteinbergUniversity of New South Wales (Australia)

Red algaDelisea pulchra

Sargassum sp. Delisea pulchra

BiosignalTM

Dr Naresh

KumarUniversity of New

South Wales (Australia)

MOVIE

"God asked me if I did find his universe to my liking and tasteWhen I said no, then he replied,

create your own and lay this waste"

guftand jahaan-e-maa, aayaa ba too mee saazad guftam ke namee saazad, guftand ke barham zan